Television personality Oprah Winfrey, who in the past boosted sales of the Amazon Kindle by praising it on her program, recently declared herself a fan of Apple's iPad for an audience of millions to see.

Winfrey praised the iPad, which she called "amazing," in a conversation on her show last week with tech analyst Omar Wasow. She highlighted the device's abilities as an e-reader, noting that the its touchscreen allows books to "move," and proclaimed that Apple's new hardware would "change the way kids learn."

The TV host also mentioned the Kindle when talking about the iPad, noting that the Amazon Kindle application allows users to read their books on the iPad. She said that unlike the Kindle, the iPad has a backlit screen, which allows for reading in the dark, sharing photos, and playing games like Scrabble. "Gosh, those Apple folks," she said.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the TV host even referred to her ownership of Amazon's e-reader in the past tense, stating she "had a Kindle." A spokesperson for Winfrey later clarified and said she uses both devices.

The Journal noted that Winfrey's endorsement of the Kindle in 2008 led to a flood of orders at Amazon, which had difficulty keeping up with demand for the holiday season.

Oprah's Book Club is featured on Apple's iBookstore on the iPad, where titles highlighted by the host are available for purchase. As part of the free iBooks application, the iBookstore is Apple's entrance into the e-book market, and also features the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Winfrey has partnered with Apple in the past for charity. In 2006, she, along with U2 singer Bono and a number of celebrities, took part in the (Product) Red promotion for the iPod nano. Proceeds from the device, which is still sold by Apple with the latest-generation iPod nano, support the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa. Oprah and Bono both filmed a segment at an Apple store in Chicago, Ill., to promote the cause in 2006.

Television personality Oprah Winfrey, who in the past boosted sales of the Amazon Kindle by praising it on her program, recently declared herself a fan of Apple's iPad for an audience of millions to see.

Apple is DOOMED.

"I'm way over my head when it comes to technical issues like this"Gatorguy 5/31/13

An endorsement from a woman who touted "A Million Little Pieces" and "The Secret" and regularly promotes as medical authorities such people as Mehmet Oz, Suzanne Somers, Jenny McCarthy is not something that Apple should welcome

An endorsement from a woman who touted "A Million Little Pieces" and "The Secret" and regularly promotes as medical authorities such people as Mehmet Oz, Suzanne Somers, Jenny McCarthy is not something that Apple should welcome

Why? She has millions of dedicated fans who will be very interested in the iPad based on her comments.

For those who don't like her, her endorsement won't reflect badly on Apple, so why should Apple care?

It would be different if Hitler was touting the iPad, but he didn't like it.

"I'm way over my head when it comes to technical issues like this"Gatorguy 5/31/13

An endorsement from a woman who touted "A Million Little Pieces" and "The Secret" and regularly promotes as medical authorities such people as Mehmet Oz, Suzanne Somers, Jenny McCarthy is not something that Apple should welcome

An endorsement from a woman who touted "A Million Little Pieces" and "The Secret" and regularly promotes as medical authorities such people as Mehmet Oz, Suzanne Somers, Jenny McCarthy is not something that Apple should welcome

It just goes to show how misinformed you are of the impact of people like Oprah, and the good things she has accomplished.

I do not care much about the others you cited.

I have seen some of her shows, although on very rare occasion. Not my kind of thing to watch on a regular basis but she has her role to play, especially to a sizable segment of our society that we derisively call, soccer Moms, etc.

She may have done more good than many of us combined.

I bet many authors, and companies would dearly love to get her endorsement. Even Apple would love to reach his fan base. In fact, they are a part of the demographic based that Apple is targeting.

An endorsement from a woman who touted "A Million Little Pieces" and "The Secret" and regularly promotes as medical authorities such people as Mehmet Oz, Suzanne Somers, Jenny McCarthy is not something that Apple should welcome

Because free advertisement from a well respected woman in the media, with millions of dedicated viewers who take her endorsement as a "must buy", is assuredly a bad thing for the business because of her personal opinions?

Also, it is a horrible thing for Apple to realize profit from that endorsement so that they can invest in refining the product lines they currently have (and invest in new innovative products).

I'm sure Steve is very upset about this and will work hard to resolve. I expect a retraction from Oprah by end of week.

At least me, as a shareholder and consumer of Apple products, sure hopes so..........

An endorsement from a woman who touted "A Million Little Pieces" and "The Secret" and regularly promotes as medical authorities such people as Mehmet Oz, Suzanne Somers, Jenny McCarthy is not something that Apple should welcome

This is a fair criticism. While Opera does a lot of very good things with her wealth and publicity, she has also made her share of blunders. Then again, we all have.

What's most concerning, IMHO, is that her influence and support is often used to encourage her fans to lean towards very... err... untraditional forms of medication and/or fulfillment. If you're sick - go see a doctor first. If you want to try alternative medicine - have at it - but make sure you see a medical expert too. If you're feeling 'unfulfilled', read a self help book or try to figure out the secret - but you might also try the Bible. (not trying to start a religious debate - honestly.) Just making a point that Opera tends to avoid mainstream and that lands her in contradictory and awkward situations at times.

As a significant shareholder - I'll take Opera's endorsement all day long and bank on it.

I think Oprah more than destroyed and discredited James Frey's career as a writer when she found out the whole book was a lie.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdcat

An endorsement from a woman who touted "A Million Little Pieces" and "The Secret" and regularly promotes as medical authorities such people as Mehmet Oz, Suzanne Somers, Jenny McCarthy is not something that Apple should welcome

The cars were donated by Pontiac and we all know where Pontiac is today. BTW, if Oprah does give away iPads to everyone on one of her shows, then I wonder if she'll foot the bill herself or expect Apple to donate them. The other thing to consider is the people who received the free cars were specifically chosen because of their need for a new car. Wonder if Oprah will screen people to see who needs iPads.

It just goes to show how misinformed you are of the impact of people like Oprah, and the good things she has accomplished.

I do not care much about the others you cited.

I have seen some of her shows, although on very rare occasion. Not my kind of thing to watch on a regular basis but she has her role to play, especially to a sizable segment of our society that we derisively call, soccer Moms, etc.

She may have done more good than many of us combined.

I bet many authors, and companies would dearly love to get her endorsement. Even Apple would love to reach his fan base. In fact, they are a part of the demographic based that Apple is targeting.

CGC

A friend said it best: "Oprah gives good interview!"

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"Swift generally gets you to the right way much quicker." - auxio -

"The perfect [birth]day -- A little playtime, a good poop, and a long nap." - Tomato Greeting Cards -

Fekk that psycho! Who wants an endorsement by someone who brings quacks on their show scaring people into NOT getting their kids vaccinated -- which WILL result in unprotected kids dying!!!!!?? She has all these quacks and sounds like a damn cult leader. she's a fraud that cares only about money - no better than Limbaugh or Beck, etc. Ugh. AI - ugh!!

It's very strange to me how for some people the importance of this endorsement seems to come down to how they feel about Oprah. Poke fun at Oprah all you like (I do it myself) but if you don't know that she's one of the country's most important tastemakers, then you don't know anything. Having her endorse the iPad a big deal for Apple. Millions more iPads will fly out the doors of Apple stores because of her stamp of approval. That's bankable.

Oprah recently was consider the most trusted person in America... you ask why because she convinces people to give her stuff to give away to her audience. Talk about a cult, her followers are worst than all you Apple fanboys, you better hope they do not end up here once they all go out and buy ipads since god Oprah has told her followers it is a good thing for them.

Watch you will see Oprah show up on itunes with her pick of the week or month.

On a side note... Itunes will need to changes its name since it really does not say what it really is these days.

An endorsement from a woman who touted "A Million Little Pieces" and "The Secret" and regularly promotes as medical authorities such people as Mehmet Oz, Suzanne Somers, Jenny McCarthy is not something that Apple should welcome

On the contrary, it's exactly what's good for the iPad. The more popular, big names get behind it and promote it, the better.

Microstupid and the other also-rans would kill for this kind of endorsement. Use your head.

Oprah recently was consider the most trusted person in America... you ask why because she convinces people to give her stuff to give away to her audience. Talk about a cult, her followers are worst thean all you Apple fanboys, you better hope they do not end up here once they all go out and buy ipads since god Oprah has told her followers it is a good thing for them.

Whatever that means. I've never been comfortable throwing around the term "cult" especially as a substitute for the word "fan" or "taste," but that's just me.